Multiple function paintball marker bolt

ABSTRACT

A paintball marker using a lightweight bolt design suing a composite bolt structure with a light weight body and precision sear release edge adapted for consistent sear over the life of the marker. The composite bolt structure also has a spring retention end with a sear access slot and sear retraction ramp for guiding the sear to the precision release edge.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limitedto copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rightswhatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of paintball markers. Inparticular, the present invention relates specifically to paintballmarkers using gas provided by a gas canister. Known art may be found inU.S. Class 124 Mechanical Guns and Projectors: Subclass 53 HavingCut-Off, Subclass 63 Provided by Movement of User-Actuated,Projector-Mounted Pressure Member, Subclass 73 By Valve Means; Class 141Fluent Material Handling, with Receiver or Receiver Contacting Means:Subclass 290 With Flue or Vent Externally Returning to Supply as well asin other classes and subclasses.

2. Description of the Known Art

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, gas cartridges havebeen used to supply gas to paintball markers. Patents and Applicationsdisclosing information regarding various canister or markerconfigurations include U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0131834, issuedto Rice on Jul. 17, 2003; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0178018,issued to Cherry on Sep. 25, 2003; U.S. Patent Publication No.2004/0144012, issued to Adams on Jul. 29, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 1,743,576,issued to Smith on Jul. 14, 1927; U.S. Pat. No. 3,494,344, issued toVadas on Feb. 10, 1970; U.S. Pat. No. 4,362,145, issued to Stelcher onDec. 7, 1982; U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,609, issued to Tippmann on Apr. 11,1989; U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,456, issued to Perrone on Jun. 3, 1997; U.S.Pat. No. 5,839,422, issued to Ferris on Nov. 24, 1998; and U.S. Pat. No.6,494,194, issued to Shipachev on Dec. 17, 2002. Each of these patentsand publications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

This prior art shows the desire to use a gas cartridge because a filledcartridge may be shipped within the department of transportationguidelines. However, the prior art fails to teach the limitationsimposed by these cartridges and how to overcome these limitations. Thus,it may be seen that these prior art patents are very limited in theirteaching and utilization, and an improved marker is needed to overcomethese limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an improved paintball marker havingan increased gas supply through a sealing and piercing connection withmultiple gas canisters. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, a paintball marker is provided using apressurized gas supplied from a plurality of gas cartridges. Each of thegas cartridges has a gas containment body that needs to be pierced torelease the pressurized gas. The inventive aspect of the marker uses aplurality of gas inputs to connect to multiple gas cartridges. Themarker uses a unique construction such that each of the multiple gasinputs is sealably connectable to one gas cartridge and then a piercingneedle is used to puncture the sealed gas cartridge. The gas is thendirected by the needle and the input to a common chamber. In thismanner, the gas inputs are fluidly connected to a gas combinationchamber. This combined gas flow is then used to launch paintballs. Asnoted by this invention, one inventive aspect of the invention isprovided by a pressure application device which applies the sealingpressure to the gas cartridges and then applies the piercing pressure tothe gas cartridges.

A method is also taught that uses the elements of providing multipleinputs for accepting the pressurized gas from each of gas cartridges;releasing the pressurized gas from the cartridges; combining at least aportion of the pressurized gas from each of the gas cartridges to form acombined gas supply; and selectively releasing the combined gas supplyto act on the paintball. Other elements that may be included in thismethod include sealing at least a portion of the multiple gas cartridgesand then piercing the sealed portion of a plurality of the multiple gascartridges to release the pressurized gas; providing a piercing needleand pressing the gas cartridge against the piercing needle; or providinga gas expansion chamber and using a combined volume chamber to provide alaunching volume of gas.

One object of the present invention is to provide an increased gassupply by combining multiple cartridge supplies while still providing asingle valve assembly that is easily and inexpensively controlled.

A further object of the invention is a method for sealing and piercingmultiple cartridges without prematurely releasing gas from one of thecanisters.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, alongwith features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or becomeapparent by reviewing the following detailed description of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification andwhich are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which likereference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible toindicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a paintball marker.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the paintball marker of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the multiple cartridges and combinationchamber arrangement before connection.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the connected arrangement for the multiplecartridges and combination chamber.

FIG. 5 is a cut away schematic view of the paintball marker of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the combination chamber area of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a top isometric view of the breech bolt of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the breech bolt of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a right side view of the breech bolt of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a back view of the breech bolt of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a right side view of the breech bolt of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a back view of the breech bolt of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cutaway view of the breech bolt along line A-A shown inFIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the breech bolt of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a bottom isometric view of the breech bolt of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 15 of the drawings, one exemplary embodimentof the present invention is generally shown as a multiple canistersupply paintball marker 100 for using pressurized gas 22 for launching apaintball 10. The gas is provided in commercially known and availablegas cartridges 20 shown in FIGS. 2 through 6 that hold a pressurized gas22 within a gas containment body 24. The gas cartridges 20 are alsoknown as gas containers 20. The pressurized gas 22 may be seen in itsinitial position within the gas container 20 through the cutaway sectionof the gas containment body 24 shown in FIG. 3. The gas containment bodyincludes a release neck 26, an elongated central compartment 28 and adomed end 30. The gas cartridges 20 are designed so that they willrelease the pressurized gas 22 upon puncturing of the release neck 26.The release neck 26 is flowably connected to the elongated centralcompartment 28 which is capped by the domed end 30 of the cartridge 20.

FIG. 1 shows an external overview of the multiple canister paintballmarker 100 having a marker body 102. Extending downward from the markerbody 102 is the grip 110 which houses the trigger 112. The safety 124interacts with the trigger 112 to selectively lock the marker 100 in aninoperable condition. On top of the marker body 102 is mounted thehopper 116 which is selectively attached and released by the hopperrelease button 118. Extending from the front of the marker body 102 isthe barrel 120 and the cocking pump handle 122. The back of the markerbody 102 is covered by the piercing screw cartridge cap 172. This is thearea where the multiple gas cartridges 20 are mounted in, sealed to, andpierced by the marker 100.

FIG. 2 of the drawings shows an exploded view of the multiple cartridgeapparatus 100. This figure shows how the cartridges 20 are mounted intoa fixed position in the marker body 102 such that the piercing cap 172can apply the sealing pressure and the piercing pressure to release thegas into the marker 100. The marker body 102 is made up of a lefthousing 104 and a right housing 106 which are connected together byscrews 108. As shown in FIG. 2, the grip 110 is molded as an integralpart of the marker body 102. The trigger 112 pivots within a cavity inthe housings 104, 106 and is biased by a trigger spring 114 to engagethe hammer assembly 130. The hopper 116 slides into the housings 104,106 and is releasably held in place by the hopper release button 118.The back of the hopper release button 118 is designed with a pivot axisand the front of the hopper release button 118 slides in the housings104, 106 such that the release button 118 downwardly flexes to providethe necessary movement for releasing the hopper 116. The barrel 120 ismolded into the left housing 104 to provide a smooth barrel without amolding separation line. The cocking pump handle 122 slides over thebarrel and uses an extended arm 123 to connect with the bolt assembly132 for cocking the marker 100. The safety 124 slides sideways in thehousings 104, 106 to selectively block the movement of the trigger 112.

The launching device 126 includes a hammer compression spring 128mounted between a hammer assembly 130 and a bolt assembly 132. In thebasic operation of the marker 100, the extension 123 of the cocking pumphandle 122 engages the bolt assembly 132 and is pushed back until thehammer release 131 engages the bolt assembly 132. This rearward movementof the bolt assembly 132 also allows a paintball (not shown in thisFigure) to drop from the hopper into the breech area. The coking pumphandle 122 is then moved forward which moves the paintball 10 into thefiring position and carries the compressed spring 128 and hammerassembly 130 forward with the cocking pump handle 122. The firingposition of the paintball is shown in FIG. 5. The hammer release 131then engages the trigger 112 and the marker 100 is ready to fire.Pulling the trigger 112 releases the hammer assembly 130 such that theenergy of the compressed spring 128 moves the hammer backwards tocontact and open the pressure release valve in the valve body assembly134 to allow the pressurized gas to launch the paintball 10.

As shown in FIGS. 3 through 19, the valve body assembly 134 provides aunique combination of elements to allow for multiple cartridges 20 to beused to supply the pressurized gas 22. While any number of multipleinputs could be utilized, the preferred embodiment uses two gas inputs136. As shown in the sealing and then piercing of FIGS. 16 through 19,each gas input 136 includes a gas seal mounted to seal the cartridge tothe gas flow structure. The gas seal is a compression seal that isadapted to seal the gas flow structure to the gas cartridge 20 beforepuncturing of the cartridge 20 to release the pressurized gas 22. Thecartridge 20 is shown in FIG. 16 before insertion into the gas input136. FIG. 17 then shows the cartridge 20 contacting the seal, and FIG.18 shows the cartridge 20 compacting the seal to seal the cartridge tothe gas input 136. FIG. 19 then shows the needle piercing the cartridge20 to release the gas 22. The present invention uses a hollow piercingneedle to puncture the cartridge 20 and the hollow center body of theneedle provides the gas flow structure. The released pressurized gas 22is guided to the gas combination chamber 144. The gas combinationchamber 144 and its expansion volume 156 are shown in FIG. 14. Becausethe pressurized gas may be in liquid form, the gas combination chamber144 is designed not only to mix the multiple gas flows together to forma combined gas supply 158, but also provides an expansion volume 156 toallow for the gas to expand to become a more viscous gaseous flow.

A releasable chamber seal 154 is formed in one end of the chamber 144that allows for selectively releasing the combined gas supply 158. Thischamber seal 154 is formed as a pressure release valve that is mountedto the hammer end of the gas combination chamber 144. The pressurerelease valve has a valve seal 148 that is biased into a sealed positionby the seal biasing spring 150. In this manner, the hammer may impactthe seal driving rod 149 to move the valve seal backwards to a releasedposition 151 to release the combined pressurized gas supply 158. Theseal biasing spring 150 then returns the valve seal 148 to the sealedposition.

An important aspect of the present embodiment is the alignment andpressure sealing of all of the canisters 20 into one of the inputs 136before piercing of any of the canisters 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 ofthe drawings, the present invention utilizes a cartridge housing 160with ribs 161 guiding the canisters 20 into position within a multiplecartridge holding area 162. A pressure application device 164 is thenused with a first range of motion 166 to seal the canisters 20 and asecond range of motion 168 for piercing the canisters. The preferredembodiment uses a first thread 170 on a piercing screw cartridge cap 172that engages a second thread 174 on the body 110 of the marker 100. Thepiercing cap 172 has a circular interior area forming a multiplecartridge contact area 176 which slideably engages the domed end 30 ofthe cartridges 20 to apply the necessary compression pressure to firstseal and then pierce the cartridges 20. Thus, the cartridges 20 are putinto the housing 160 and then the piercing cap 172 is screwed onto themarker body 110. As the cap is tightened, the length of the housing 160is reduced and both of the cartridges 20 are equally forced into the gasinputs 136. This provides for the sealing on both cartridges and thepiercing of both cartridges to occur substantially simultaneously. Thisprovides the necessary seal and the piercing function to avoid the useindividual gas valves in each of the gas inputs. It is envisioned thatthe present invention could be embodied with these multiple valves, butthe unique design of the preferred embodiment shown here provides a lessexpensive alternative.

FIGS. 7 through 15 show the detail of the bolt 132. The breech bolt 132has a main breech bolt body 200 constructed from a fiber impregnatedplastic for light weight with a central channel bore 201 for gasexhaust. The composite structure using the fiber impregnate plasticallows the bolt 132 to have a low mass for fast operation inside themarker 100 by lowering the moment inertia of the bolt 132 and increasingthe bolt's ability to change direction. The low mass provides a distinctadvantage but the high wear characteristics of the plastic used for thebolt 132 creates wear problems for the sear 131 to bolt 132 engagementarea. To overcome these problems, the present invention utilizes aprecision release insert 206 to form a sear catch edge 204 on the bolt131. The precision release insert 206 is made from a low wear metal andmay be constructed as a rivet or other material that is press fit,glued, welded, directed molded, or otherwise attached into the bolt.Several alternative embodiments may be utilized to for the catch edge204 including a metal bar across the sear catch edge or even the use ofa washer or ring positioned on the circumference of the bolt 132. Forthe preferred embodiment, a cylindrical insert was constructed tominimize the amount of heavy weight material that is used in the bolt132 design in order to maintain both the low manufacturing cost and thelow weight advantages. The present invention's preferred embodiment usesa cylindrical metal piece for the precision release insert 206 that isbasically a cylinder with a rough edge that is molded into the plasticused for the bolt 132 during manufacture. The internal core aperture 207to bottom edge 211 of the insert 206 provides the catch release edge 204and allows for the corners of the square shaped retractable sear 131 toride on the rounded edge of the insert's aperture 207 at only twolocations. This provides for reduced friction in the contact between thesear 131 and the insert 206 for easier operation of the retractable sear131.

A further advantage of the present design is the use of a springretention tube 209 on a back end 208 of the bolt 132 which defines asear access slot 210 so that the sear 131 does not drag along the bolt132 once the sear 131 is released. For the reengagement with the sear131, the sear access slot 210 has an internal end 212 with a searretraction ramp 214. This directs the retractable sear 131 onto and overthe precision release insert 206. The sear 131 to slot 210 alignment iscontrolled by a rotational alignment structure 216 that uses a guideextension 218 having a fin 220 that rides in an internal body slot 210on the marker body 102. For the preferred embodiment, the fin 220 isconstructed with a length 222 aligned with a main body axis 224. Thisallows the fin 220 to slide in the internal body slot 210 to keep thesear 131 aligned with the access slot 210 for engagement with the searcatch edge 204 on the precision release insert.

Reference numerals used throughout the detailed description and thedrawings correspond to the following elements:

-   -   a paintball 10    -   gas cartridge/gas container 20    -   a pressurized gas 22    -   a gas containment body 24    -   release neck 26    -   elongated central compartment 28    -   domed end 30    -   a paintball marker apparatus 100    -   marker body 102    -   left housing 104    -   right housing 106    -   screw 108    -   grip 110    -   trigger 112    -   trigger spring 114    -   hopper 116    -   hopper release button 118    -   barrel 120    -   cocking pump handle 122    -   an extended arm 123    -   safety 124    -   a launching device 126    -   hammer compression spring 128    -   hammer assembly 130    -   retractable sear 131    -   bolt assembly 132    -   valve body assembly 134    -   gas inputs 136    -   a gas combination chamber 144    -   a valve seal 148    -   seal driving rod 149    -   a seal biasing spring 150    -   a release position 151    -   a releasable chamber seal 154    -   an expansion volume 156    -   a combined gas supply 158    -   a cartridge housing 160    -   ribs 161    -   a multiple cartridge holding area 162    -   a pressure application device 164    -   a first range of motion 166    -   a second range of motion 168    -   a first thread 170    -   a piercing screw cartridge cap 172    -   a second thread 174    -   a multiple cartridge contact area 176    -   a main breech bolt body 200    -   a central channel bore 201    -   a main body 202    -   a sear catch edge 204    -   a precision release insert 206    -   a internal core aperture 207    -   a back end 208    -   a spring retention tube 209    -   a sear access slot 210    -   a bottom edge 211    -   an internal end 212    -   a sear retraction ramp 214    -   a rotational alignment structure 216    -   a guide extension 218    -   a fin 220    -   a length 222    -   a main body axis 224

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention well adapted toobtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with otheradvantages which are inherent to the structure. It will also beunderstood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility andmay be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Manypossible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing fromthe scope thereof. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1. A breech bolt apparatus for a paintball marker using a retractablesear to engage the breech bolt, the breech bolt comprising: a main bodyhaving a sear catch edge distally positioned from a back end of the mainbody, the main body defining a sear access slot extending from the backend towards the sear catch edge.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, the mainbody further defining a sear retraction ramp at an internal end of thesear access slot.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, the main body furtherdefining a rotational alignment structure, wherein the rotationalcontrol structure is used to control the alignment of the sear accessslot with the retractable sear.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, the mainbody further defining a rotational alignment structure, wherein therotational alignment structure is used to control the alignment of thesear access slot with the retractable sear.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3,the rotational alignment structure comprising: a guide extensionoutwardly projecting from the main body.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4,the rotational alignment structure comprising: a guide extensionoutwardly projecting from the main body.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5,the main body having a central axis, the guide extension comprising afin having a length aligned with the axis of the main body.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 6, the main body having a central axis, the guideextension comprising a fin having a length aligned with the axis of themain body.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, the sear catch edge comprising:a precision release insert adapted to consistently engage and disengagethe retractable sear.
 10. The apparatus of claim 2, the sear catch edgecomprising: a precision release insert adapted to consistently engageand disengage the retractable sear.
 11. The apparatus of claim 3, thesear catch edge comprising: a precision release insert adapted toconsistently engage and disengage the retractable sear.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 4, the sear catch edge comprising: a precisionrelease insert adapted to consistently engage and disengage theretractable sear.
 13. The apparatus of claim 5, the sear catch edgecomprising: a precision release insert adapted to consistently engageand disengage the retractable sear.
 14. The apparatus of claim 6, thesear catch edge comprising: a precision release insert adapted toconsistently engage and disengage the retractable sear.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 7, the sear catch edge comprising: a precisionrelease insert adapted to consistently engage and disengage theretractable sear.
 16. The apparatus of claim 8, the sear catch edgecomprising: a precision release insert adapted to consistently engageand disengage the retractable sear.
 17. A breech bolt apparatus for apaintball marker using a retractable sear to engage the breech bolt, thebreech bolt comprising: a main body defining a sear catch edge distallypositioned from a back end of the main body and a rotational alignmentstructure, wherein the rotational control structure is used to controlthe alignment of the sear catch edge with the retractable sear.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17, the rotational alignment structure comprising: aguide extension outwardly projecting from the main body.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 17, the sear catch edge comprising: a precisionrelease insert adapted to consistently engage and disengage theretractable sear.
 20. A breech bolt apparatus for a paintball markerusing a retractable sear to engage the breech bolt, the breech boltcomprising: a main body having a sear catch edge distally positionedfrom a back end of the main body, the sear catch edge including aprecision release insert adapted to consistently engage and disengagethe retractable sear.